Exercise appliance



F. w. PARKER EXERCISE APPLIANCE Filed July 17, 1940 Dec. 10, 1940.

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXERCISE APPLIANCE Fred W. Parker, Flanigan, Nev.

Application July 17, 1940, Serial N0. 346,015

1 Claim. (Cl. 27279) The invention relates to improvements inexercise appliances which are designed particularly for those who desire to strengthen the abdominal muscles, and to reduce the waistline and 5 hips; one object of the invention being to provide an appliance which will assist the beginner to perform certain beneficial exercises without sufiering undue soreness or other unpleasant after-effects.

Another object of the improvement is to provide an appliance which will protect the user from dusty floors, grass stains, etc.

Further objects of the invention are: to provide an appliance which may be used almost anywhere, which is readily portable, safe, simple,

low in cost, and which is automatically adjustable to the users requirements.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds, it being understood that changes may be made in materials and. arrangement of parts within the scope of the invention as claimed.

One form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a 25 plan view of the entire appliance; and Figure 2 a side elevation of the same.

Referring to Figure 1, the appliance consists of an axle I, wheels 2, spindle screws 3, washers 4, broad strip of elastic material 6, and pad 8. The

30 pad 8, is not indispensable to the operation of the device, but is added for the comfort of the user.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be readily apparent that the wheels 2, are attached to the axle I, by the spindle screws 3, and that the washers 4, serve merely to reduce friction. A loop is formed in one end of the long, broad 5 strip of elastic by turning back a suitable portion and sewing at 5. As shown in Figure l, the axle I, passes through this loop. The pad 8, is shown sewed to the elastic 6, at I, and 9, but this is not an essential feature of the invention. 10

In operation: the user kneels upon the pad 8, and grasps the loop- 5, and axle I, firmly with both hands, and then pushes the axle forward, thus stretching the elasticand at the same time lowering the body toward the prone position. The tension of the elastic then assists the user to return to the original position. This assistance on the return from the prone position is one advantage of this device, for it enables a beginner to perform this beneficial exercise without undue strain. Another advantage is the ease with which the user may select the tension best suited to his requirements. This is done by merely shifting the knees to the desired distance from the axle.

I claim:

In an exercise appliance, the combination of an axle, having a wheel rotatably mounted on each end, and a long, wide strip of elastic material, said elastic having a loop formed at one 30 end to fit around said axle.

FRED W. PARKER. 

